Pistachio rootstock tree named ‘Wonderful Pistachio Rootstock #3’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of pistachio tree characterized by producing large leaves, reddish-green new foliage, and dark green mature foliage. The new variety is useful as a rootstock for commercial nut bearing pistachio varieties.

Latin name of the genus and species claimed: Pistacia atlantica×P. integerrima.

Variety denomination: ‘WONDERFUL PISTACHIO ROOTSTOCK #3’.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the discovery and asexual propagation of a new and distinct variety of Pistachio tree, Pistachio atlantica (unpatented)×P. integerrima (unpatented), cv. ‘Wonderful Pistachio Rootstock #3’ as herein described and illustrated. The new variety was first selected as breeder number ‘SR412-4’. The new variety is a hybrid of P. atlantica and P. integerrima which was first discovered on cultivated land from trees grown from seed produced by a cross of the two parent varieties. The new variety was discovered, further characterized, and propagated by Joseph Macllvaine, Eric Mercure and John Etchamendy in the San Joaquin Valley, Kern County, Calif.

The new variety ‘Wonderful Pistachio Rootstock #3’ is characterized by producing large leaves, reddish-green new foliage, dark green mature foliage and upright habits with rounded crown. The new variety is useful as a rootstock to nut bearing pistachio.

The new variety ‘Wonderful Pistachio Rootstock #3’ was first asexually propagated in 2002 by Eric Mercure by tissue culture in the Southern San Joaquin Valley in Kern County, Calif. and established and transmitted through succeeding propagation by air-layering.

The male parent is P. integerrima (unpatented) and the female parent is P. atlantica (unpatented). The date of first planting was 1996, and the date of first flowering was 2000.

The new variety ‘Wonderful Pistachio Rootstock #3’ differs from its male parent P. integerrima in that the leaves and leaflets are shorter. Also, the leaflet base is more rounded in the new variety. In addition, the leaves are less red when emerging and fall off sooner.

The new variety ‘Wonderful Pistachio Rootstock #3’ differs from its female parent P. atlantica in that new variety is more vigorous and is believed to be more resistant to verticillium disease. The leaflets of the new variety are smaller and less rounded with a faster growth rate. The new variety has an overall larger size canopy.

The new variety can be distinguished from other available varieties by its yield characteristics. The closest available varieties are Integerrima “Pioneer Gold” and UCB1, an atlantica×integerrima hybrid. Yields on P. vera have been observed to be consistently higher on mature trees on the new rootstock variety when compare to Pioneer Gold and UCB1. The new variety ‘Wonderful Pistachio Rootstock #3’ has a 70% improved yield over the average yield from P. vera on UCB1. The yield of the new variety ‘Wonderful Pistachio Rootstock #3’ was measured from 2004-2013.

The new variety ‘Wonderful Pistachio Rootstock #3’ can also be distinguished from “Pioneer Gold” by the leaf shape.

The new ‘Wonderful Pistachio Rootstock #3’ has been shown to maintain its distinguishing characteristics through successive asexual propagations by, for example, tissue culture and air layering.

Variations of the usual magnitude from the characteristics described herein may occur with changes in growing conditions, irrigation, fertilization, pruning, management and with climatic variation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color photographic illustration

FIG. 1 shows a mature tree, with foliage, of the new variety ‘Wonderful Pistachio Rootstock #3’.

FIG. 2 shows a close up of the trunk and the foliage.

FIG. 3 shows a close up of the foliage. The colors of photographic illustration are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Throughout this specification, color names beginning with a small letter signify that the name of that color, as used in common speech, is aptly descriptive. Color names beginning with a capital letter designate values based upon The R.H.S. Colour Chart, published by The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 5^(th) edition, 2007.

The descriptive matter which follows pertains to ‘Wonderful Pistachio Rootstock #3’ grown in the vicinity of the Southern San Joaquin Valley in Kern County, Calif. during 2002 to present, and is believed to apply to plants of the variety grown under similar conditions of soil and climate elsewhere.

PLANT

-   General:     -   -   Growth.—Upright tree with a rounded crown reaching 70-100             feet in height.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaves:     -   -   Number of leaflets.—7-9.         -   Average length.—Long, approximately 8-10 inches.         -   Average width.—Medium, approximately 5-6 inches. -   Leaflets:     -   -   Size.—Medium, approximately 3 inches.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Length.—Medium, approximately 2.5-3 inches.         -   Color of new leaflets.—About Dark Greyed-purple 183B.         -   Color of old leaflets.—About Dark Green 137A, Dark Green             137B and Yellow-Green 147B.         -   Edge.—Entire.         -   Petiole.—Petiolated.         -   Arrangement of petiole.—Pinnately compound.         -   Arrangement of stems.—Opposite.         -   Shape of leaf at apex.—Acuminate.         -   Shape of leaf at base.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Venation.—Pinnate.         -   Vein color.—About Dark Green 137A, Dark Green 137B and             Yellow-Green 147B.         -   Texture of top surface.—Globrous.         -   Texture of bottom of surface.—Globrous. -   Ribs:     -   -   Length.—Approximately 6-8 inches.         -   Color.—About Dark Greyed-Purple 183A-B to Medium             Yellow-Green 144A-B, and underside color About Medium             Yellow-Green 144B. -   Petiole:     -   -   Length.—Approximately 2 inches.         -   Color.—About Dark Greyed-Purple 183B to Medium Yellow-Green             144A-B.         -   Diameter.—Less than ⅛ inch. -   Growth:     -   -   Trunk shape.—Upright.         -   Trunk color.—About Dark Brown 200B with fissures About             Medium Grey-Brown 199D.         -   Tree height.—Approximately 4-5 feet prior to budding of the             nut producing scion in July-September.         -   Tree spread.—None, a the rootstock is grown as a single             stem.         -   Trunk diameter.—Large, approximately ½ to ¾ inches prior to             budding. Diameter at the time of maturity is unknown.         -   Bark texture.—Striated when young and slightly furrowed with             age.         -   Vegetative bud size.—Approximately ⅛″-¼″.         -   Vegetative bud color.—Reddish-gray. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of pistachio tree as herein illustrated and described. 